Read Online Alien Chronicles 1 - The Golden One by Deborah Chester - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Deborah Chester
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Brown fur formed a mask across Ampris’s eyes, which were squinted against the slanting sunlight. The Aaroun squeaked and mewed, and Israi cradled her close once more. “That will honor the goddess and make everyone think of her, yet it cannot offend.”
“Well thought, Daughter,” the Kaa said in approval.
Israi grinned. “Yes, Ampris. A grand name, for her to grow into, for when she is bigger.”
“Perhaps a bit too grand for a mere Aaroun?” he suggested again.
Israi looked at him. “Nothing is too grand for the possession of the sri-Kaa!” she declared.
He inflated his air sacs in pride. “Spoken like a true Daughter of the Empire.”
She grinned at him, and for a second as their litter swung around and surged forward on a jet of air, they were in complete accord.
The Kaa hugged his daughter fondly and indulged her by blowing through her ear dimples. She squealed with laughter, and he laughed too.
“Faster!” he called to his driver, willing to give his daughter a treat. “Racing speed!”
The nose of the litter tilted up, and although it was built for stately processionals, not racing, the driver gunned it to maximum acceleration. Draperies billowed and swung free of their securings, flapping from the canopy. A cushion blew off, tumbling into the street to be fought over by the cheering crowd. The litter flashed by the people in a multicolored blur. The litters containing their attendants struggled to keep up, while Fazhmind and the ladies in waiting clutched clothing and squinted grimly against the wind.
The guards rode in a skimmer that was larger and faster. It caught up and paralleled the imperial litter, pretending to race them, yet never quite edging ahead.
Israi squealed in shrill delight and leaned forward. “Faster, faster!” she called to the driver. “Don’t let them win!”
It was madness, surging through the streets of Vir at this reckless speed. The impetuous act of a ta-chune male, not a ruler over numerous worlds. Yet the Kaa’s spirit soared, and he laughed in the sheer joy of speed, which he loved as much as his daughter.
Ahead of them, the magnificent spires of the palace reached to the sky, silhouetted against a sunset of blazing corals and delicate pinks. It was as though the sky itself celebrated the close of Festival with them. The Kaa saw the rising walls and scaffolding of the restoration project beyond the perimeter of the present palace compound, and his heart swelled more. Life was as it should be. No matter what detractors and political fools might murmur among themselves, his empire remained great. He was great. There was peace and prosperity for the Viis, and so it would remain while he held the throne. All was well.
In Israi’s lap, Ampris squirmed briefly in an instinctive search for her mother. But there was only the reassuring touch of a tiny Viis hand pressed against her side, and momentarily, the stroke of a large hand down her back. Already Ampris had learned much in these short days. She had known excruciating loss and terror. She felt weak from hunger now, and her thirst brought pain. Yet the touch of these Viis creatures was gentle, not rough. The little Viis had saved her. That, Ampris understood. The little Viis loved her, and Ampris absorbed that love into herself, finding comfort in it. Already the memory of her mother was not as strong, not as painful, as it had been.
The fear and grieving in her tiny heart abated for the first time. Ampris sniffed, pressing her nose against the small hand upon her, and breathed in the strange scent of it. Viis scent. Not good . . . until now.
Not mother scent, yet here was love offered, along with comfort and security. Not mother scent, not mother love, but a good scent and a good love. Large Viis people could not be trusted. She knew that. When she looked at them she wanted to bite.
But this little Viis person was different. The little Viis person had promised to take care of her. There was no lie in her
“Well thought, Daughter,” the Kaa said in approval.
Israi grinned. “Yes, Ampris. A grand name, for her to grow into, for when she is bigger.”
“Perhaps a bit too grand for a mere Aaroun?” he suggested again.
Israi looked at him. “Nothing is too grand for the possession of the sri-Kaa!” she declared.
He inflated his air sacs in pride. “Spoken like a true Daughter of the Empire.”
She grinned at him, and for a second as their litter swung around and surged forward on a jet of air, they were in complete accord.
The Kaa hugged his daughter fondly and indulged her by blowing through her ear dimples. She squealed with laughter, and he laughed too.
“Faster!” he called to his driver, willing to give his daughter a treat. “Racing speed!”
The nose of the litter tilted up, and although it was built for stately processionals, not racing, the driver gunned it to maximum acceleration. Draperies billowed and swung free of their securings, flapping from the canopy. A cushion blew off, tumbling into the street to be fought over by the cheering crowd. The litter flashed by the people in a multicolored blur. The litters containing their attendants struggled to keep up, while Fazhmind and the ladies in waiting clutched clothing and squinted grimly against the wind.
The guards rode in a skimmer that was larger and faster. It caught up and paralleled the imperial litter, pretending to race them, yet never quite edging ahead.
Israi squealed in shrill delight and leaned forward. “Faster, faster!” she called to the driver. “Don’t let them win!”
It was madness, surging through the streets of Vir at this reckless speed. The impetuous act of a ta-chune male, not a ruler over numerous worlds. Yet the Kaa’s spirit soared, and he laughed in the sheer joy of speed, which he loved as much as his daughter.
Ahead of them, the magnificent spires of the palace reached to the sky, silhouetted against a sunset of blazing corals and delicate pinks. It was as though the sky itself celebrated the close of Festival with them. The Kaa saw the rising walls and scaffolding of the restoration project beyond the perimeter of the present palace compound, and his heart swelled more. Life was as it should be. No matter what detractors and political fools might murmur among themselves, his empire remained great. He was great. There was peace and prosperity for the Viis, and so it would remain while he held the throne. All was well.
In Israi’s lap, Ampris squirmed briefly in an instinctive search for her mother. But there was only the reassuring touch of a tiny Viis hand pressed against her side, and momentarily, the stroke of a large hand down her back. Already Ampris had learned much in these short days. She had known excruciating loss and terror. She felt weak from hunger now, and her thirst brought pain. Yet the touch of these Viis creatures was gentle, not rough. The little Viis had saved her. That, Ampris understood. The little Viis loved her, and Ampris absorbed that love into herself, finding comfort in it. Already the memory of her mother was not as strong, not as painful, as it had been.
The fear and grieving in her tiny heart abated for the first time. Ampris sniffed, pressing her nose against the small hand upon her, and breathed in the strange scent of it. Viis scent. Not good . . . until now.
Not mother scent, yet here was love offered, along with comfort and security. Not mother scent, not mother love, but a good scent and a good love. Large Viis people could not be trusted. She knew that. When she looked at them she wanted to bite.
But this little Viis person was different. The little Viis person had promised to take care of her. There was no lie in her
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